OREGON S LGBTO NEWSMAGAZINE
AUGUST 19. 2011
VOL. '28. NO. 18
Have you heard this one?
et’s see, what’s going on in the world to-
day? The economy is tanking, again. The
midsection o f the country is being baked
alive while months o f Republican Party
presidential candidate hijinks lie ahead o f us.
On a local note, the streets o f Portland are
filled with out-of-town Sisters o f Perpetual
Indulgence, Fred Armisen came to dinner
and Darcelle got arrested. Pretty much nor-
mal summer stuff going on in these parts.
The Darcelle incident, as with most
things in today’s Age
o f Immediacy, blew
through town like a
one-day
storm— a
storm that was noisy
and alarming while
it was happening but
left little damage in
the aftermath. A dis
claimer here might
be appropriate: I do
consider Darcelle to
be a friend and have
personal
concerns,
always, about her
health
and well
being, and that o f
Roxy. Both are treasures o f our community
and rightfully deserve to be treated as such,
That said, people, good grief, some o f you
got a little carried away in your enthusi-
astic defense o f our beloved icons. Only a
very few people saw and know what actu-
ally happened the night that the Oregon
Liquor Control Commission sent agents
through the doors o f Darcelle’s Old Town
club. About 99.9 percent, if not more, o f
the city got its information— or, more likely,
misinformation— from social media sites,
Facebook, I’m talking about you.
As folks woke up on Friday morning, Au-
gust 12 and read about the event o f the night
before, it quickly became apparent that emo-
tions could/would immediately get out o f
hand. Within hours, “F R E E D A R C E L L E ”
T-shirts were being planned, with proceeds
L
K
going to Basic Rights Oregon— hey, this
arrest was entirely about marriage equality,
after all. I f the gays could just get married,
none o f this would have happened. People
were making plans to swarm the courthouse
hearing, and I may have read o f attempts to
steal a helicopter and bust Darcelle out o f
lockdown. Armed gays were about to take
to the streets to protest this assault and at-
tack on the gay community. Yeah, okay, they
were armed with smart phones and low-fat
lattes, but armed they
were. One Facebook
post stated, in all seri
ousness, “This incident
is a violation o f the en
tire gay community.”
Uh... really?
Folks, this was not a
“gay-bashing” incident.
It was a law-enforce
ment matter that may
or may not have been
handled in the best
manner by all parties
concerned. This was
not an attack on a gay
business. This was not
a gay person being targeted. This was not a
hate crime. We are a nation, a state, a city
o f laws. The O L C C has rules, regulations
that must be enforced, whether you’re gay
or not. We, as a gay community, can’t march
in the streets one week and demand laws to
protect us and then march again the next,
whining about laws that protect everyone
while complaining, “It’s not fair, he’s gay.”
I f you don’t like specific laws, work to
change them. I f you think the O L C C is
a heavy-handed bully, let your elected of-
ficials know and demand change. Have
your facts right, know what you’re talking
about, be an educated citizen and voter,
T h a t’s how democracy works, that’s how
we effect change.
While on the subject o f Darcelle, let me
use her as a role model for all the other event
promoters and producers in town. You know
what you can always count on Darcelle for?
Her shows, her events, her productions all
start on time. She has respect for her audi
ence. I f you want to show your admiration
and support for Darcelle in Portland, emu
late her behavior. It’s gotten to the point o f
ridiculousness with the starting— or non
starting— times o f events in Portland. If
your show is scheduled to start at 9, then
start at 9. I f you say 10, start maybe, oh... at
10. Leaving an audience hanging for 30,45,
60 minutes and more is neither professional
nor cool. Yes, the bars want to sell drinks.
You know what, though? They’re not going
to be selling anything to disgruntled people
who have already left in annoyance. This
now concludes my rant o f the day.
fter Portland Pride weekend, I promised
readers an interview with the president
o f Pride Northwest. That interview can be
found in this issue, on p. 30. You aren’t go
ing to learn much from it. W ith no reflec
tion on my writer, it’s a study in vagueness.
But as it stands, the community appears to
have been satisfied with Pride Northwest
events this year and seems content to leave
it to the current board to continue as they
will, when they will. I f and when Portland
is ready for a change, I trust that Portland
will make it happen. Until then...
nd now, a moment o f self-indulgence.
As you’ve surely heard, members o f the
Sisters o f Perpetual Indulgence came to
Portland this week to attend Conclave 2011.
At the opening ceremony on Monday, Au
gust 1 5 ,1 was surprised and delighted to be
awarded a Declaration o f Sainthood by the
Portland Sisters. I shall now be known as
Saint Photo Op, Patron Saint o f the “G o t
cha M oment.” The Sisters award sainthood
to “people whose life and accomplishments
are exemplary and in keeping with The O r
der’s philosophy and statements o f purpose.
These people have had an impact on our
community by their deeds and actions. They
are the Saints o f the order.”
For this award I am humbled and thank
ful— but I make no promises as to the dispo
sition o f photos o f compromising nature.*I*E
A
I
AUGUST 19. 201 1
INSIDE:
» NEWS & COMMUNITY
5
TRANSITIONS
5
NORTHWEST NEWS IN BRIEF
12
SPOTLIGHT ON LGBTQ
BUSINESSES
13
RADICAL RABBI
Spiritual leader from D.C. to head Portland’s
P’nai Or synagogue
30
PRIDE IN STRIDE
A Q&A with Pride Northwest president
Debra Porta
A
P a rt-tim e O ffic e /A d m in /
. Sales A ssistant
-W
just out
So the OLCC Walks Into a Bar
BY M A R T Y DA VIS
3
» LIFE & CULTURE
14
HOWLIN’ GOOD HOTELS
Dog-friendly hotels for a Portland staycation
16
SOUTHWEST SOJOURN
Exploring Albuquerque, Santa Fc and Taos
20
WHAT’S WINE IS YOURS
Sherwood winegrowers practice “alchemy”
21
OUT & ABOUT
26
A FLIGHT TO REMEMBER
Portland Gay Men’s Chorus joins effort to
commemorate 10th anniversary of 9/11
32
DEL ON WHEELS
And “off Paxil,” writer-comic Shores brings
sordid fun to Red Cap
» COLUMNISTS
18
THE SASSY GARDENER
25
LADY ABOUT TOWN
28
PETLANDIA
33
PANDA SAY WHAT?!
35
REMEMBER TO BREATHE
o ffic e w ork c o m b in e d w ith p a rt-
tim e a d sales (co m m issio n ) a n d /o r
p a rt-tim e te le m a rk e tin g w ork to
assist th e sales staff.
• 20 hours per week/specific days required
based on Just Out deadlines
• Invoicing/light bookkeeping (QuickBooks)
• Custom er service/phones
• A myriad o f standard office tasks
• Specific Just Out tasks involving ad prep/management/
customer service
• Job requirements: good phone skills, strong work ethic,
desire to succeed, Mac experience helpful
Full or p a rt-tim e a d v e rtis in g
.s a le s person n e e d e d to jo in
e xistin g s ta ff
The jo b d e s c rib e d a b o v e
■ c a n b e c o m e fu ll-tim e fo r a
c a n d id a te in te re s te d in p a rt-tim e
For further information on these opportunities, co n ta ct
Marty Davis at morty@justout.com
Please provide d etailed information on the skills,
experience and abilities you d bring to Just Out
3
Experience preferred but we will train someone
with a customer service background and the right level
o f tenacity. After a paid training period, this becomes a
commission sales job. This position requires a vehicle.